President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law on the rules for foreign tourist vessels in Russia's internal waters and territorial sea, RIA Novosti reported on July 4.

Under the law, the text of which was published on Monday on the official website of legal information, foreign tourist vessels are required to report their routes in the Arctic and the Russian Far East.

Foreign boats and ships with tourists on board that call at one or more ports without taking on more passengers or cargo can freely move around in Russia's internal waters and territorial sea after going through customs and border control. These rules only cover the ports that are open to foreign vessels and do not extend to the regions that are closed to navigation or temporary danger areas. Tourist vessels must also have a Russian tourism activity license.

Moreover, foreign tourist vessels can only call at the Arctic and Far Eastern ports on a government-approved list, and are required to provide the route they'll use between these ports or towns.

Under the new law, liability limits for ship owners and rescue organizations will be increased by 51%. This has been done to adjust Russia's legislation to the relevant resolution of the International Maritime Organization.

The State Duma adopted the new law in the third and final reading on June 22, and the Federation Council approved it on June 29.